Chevening Scholarship
Encyclopedia
Chevening Scholarship is a prestigious and highly competitive scholarship
scheme for international students who demonstrated leadership potential and a commitment to public service. The Chevening Scholarships are named after Chevening
House in Kent, the official country residence of the Foreign Secretary. The scheme commenced in 1984 and is funded by the British government's Foreign and Commonwealth Office
. The stated objective of the scheme is to build a network of friends of the UK, who will be future leaders in their countries.
The number of available scholarships varies from country to country. More than thirty scholarships are currently awarded to candidates from India and China, with less than ten core scholarships now available to candidates from Australia and Canada. (US students are not eligible, but can apply for the Marshall Scholarship
s which are also supported by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.) In 2005, a companion Chevening Fellowship scheme was commenced aimed at mid-career professionals to undertake intensive 12 weeks courses in the UK. http://www.chevening.com/fellowships
The significance of the Chevening scholarship scheme rests on its large scope - approximately 700 scholarships are awarded each year to students from more than 130 countries, allowing students from developing countries to access British tertiary education institutions some of which are of a very high standard as determined by international university rankings. In this way the Chevening scheme is more similar to the US Fulbright Scholarships
which bring students from 140 countries to the US http://foreign.fulbrightonline.org/ and differs from the Rhodes Scholarship
scheme which currently allows applications from approximately 18 countries. http://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/page/abouthttp://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/page/about Winners of Chevening scholarships often receive coverage in national and local newspapers.Kuwait Times storyStory in AnguillianSri Lankan Scholars named
In most countries, the local office of the British Council
manages the administration of the scholarship. Candidates are selected by the British Embassy/British High Commission according to criteria that value leadership and academic skills. Current selection criteria state that an ideal candidate is:
Applications are made online via a webportal. in October of each year, except for some sponsored scholarships for which applicants apply via the co-sponsoring organisation. Scholarship applicants also apply directly to their preferred universities in the UK, usually for Master's degree courses. Competition for scholarships is high with approximately 20 000 applicants for approximately 700 awards. http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/what-we-do/scholarships/chevening/how-to-apply/ Most scholarships include a living stipend, airfares and the full or partial cost of tuition fees.
The most popular destinations for study in 2006 were the London School of Economics & Political Science
and the Universities of Oxford
, Cambridge
, Manchester
, Nottingham and Leeds
. See 2005-2006 Annual Report
There are an estimated 32 000 Chevening Scholarship alumni,http://services.parliament.uk/hansard/Commons/ByDate/20090326/writtenanswers/part007.html with an emphasis being placed on improved links with and between previous scholars as a consequence of reviews in 2005 page 40 and 2006.http://www.parliament.uk/deposits/depositedpapers/2008/DEP2008-0889.doc
In 2007-8 year the Chevening Scholarships cost the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office approximately 22 million Great British pounds. Letter for Foreign Affairs Committee In the same year the Chevening Fellowships cost approximately 4 million Great British pounds.
In July 2010 the British Foreign Minister announced a cut of 10 million GBP from the scholarships budget, in the context of wider budget cuts. This resulted in a number of scholarships being cancelled for 2010-11. After a review period, the 2011-12 scholarship round opened for applications in February 2011.
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
scheme for international students who demonstrated leadership potential and a commitment to public service. The Chevening Scholarships are named after Chevening
Chevening
Chevening, also known as Chevening House, is a country house at Chevening in the Sevenoaks District of Kent, in England. It is an official residence of the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom...
House in Kent, the official country residence of the Foreign Secretary. The scheme commenced in 1984 and is funded by the British government's Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
. The stated objective of the scheme is to build a network of friends of the UK, who will be future leaders in their countries.
The number of available scholarships varies from country to country. More than thirty scholarships are currently awarded to candidates from India and China, with less than ten core scholarships now available to candidates from Australia and Canada. (US students are not eligible, but can apply for the Marshall Scholarship
Marshall Scholarship
The Marshall Scholarship, a postgraduate scholarships available to Americans, was created by the Parliament of the United Kingdom when the Marshall Aid Commemoration Act was passed in 1953. The scholarships serve as a living gift to the United States of America in recognition of the post-World War...
s which are also supported by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.) In 2005, a companion Chevening Fellowship scheme was commenced aimed at mid-career professionals to undertake intensive 12 weeks courses in the UK. http://www.chevening.com/fellowships
The significance of the Chevening scholarship scheme rests on its large scope - approximately 700 scholarships are awarded each year to students from more than 130 countries, allowing students from developing countries to access British tertiary education institutions some of which are of a very high standard as determined by international university rankings. In this way the Chevening scheme is more similar to the US Fulbright Scholarships
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
which bring students from 140 countries to the US http://foreign.fulbrightonline.org/ and differs from the Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
scheme which currently allows applications from approximately 18 countries. http://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/page/abouthttp://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/page/about Winners of Chevening scholarships often receive coverage in national and local newspapers.Kuwait Times storyStory in AnguillianSri Lankan Scholars named
In most countries, the local office of the British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
manages the administration of the scholarship. Candidates are selected by the British Embassy/British High Commission according to criteria that value leadership and academic skills. Current selection criteria state that an ideal candidate is:
- A graduate with the personal, intellectual and interpersonal qualities necessary for leadership. These include:
- influencing and communications skills, leadership track record, networking ability, ambition, plans for the future
- intelligence, academic potential, drive, self management, strength of character, integrity, interests outside work
- Motivated to make a career that will take them to positions of leadership in their own country within 10 years of their scholarship
- Committed to networking to find global solutions
- Able to use their studies and experience in the UK to benefit themselves, their countries and the UK http://www.chevening.com/requirements
Applications are made online via a webportal. in October of each year, except for some sponsored scholarships for which applicants apply via the co-sponsoring organisation. Scholarship applicants also apply directly to their preferred universities in the UK, usually for Master's degree courses. Competition for scholarships is high with approximately 20 000 applicants for approximately 700 awards. http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/what-we-do/scholarships/chevening/how-to-apply/ Most scholarships include a living stipend, airfares and the full or partial cost of tuition fees.
The most popular destinations for study in 2006 were the London School of Economics & Political Science
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
and the Universities of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
, Nottingham and Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
. See 2005-2006 Annual Report
There are an estimated 32 000 Chevening Scholarship alumni,http://services.parliament.uk/hansard/Commons/ByDate/20090326/writtenanswers/part007.html with an emphasis being placed on improved links with and between previous scholars as a consequence of reviews in 2005 page 40 and 2006.http://www.parliament.uk/deposits/depositedpapers/2008/DEP2008-0889.doc
In 2007-8 year the Chevening Scholarships cost the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office approximately 22 million Great British pounds. Letter for Foreign Affairs Committee In the same year the Chevening Fellowships cost approximately 4 million Great British pounds.
In July 2010 the British Foreign Minister announced a cut of 10 million GBP from the scholarships budget, in the context of wider budget cuts. This resulted in a number of scholarships being cancelled for 2010-11. After a review period, the 2011-12 scholarship round opened for applications in February 2011.
External links
- Official website
- Footnote 9 at reference point 600 http://services.parliament.uk/hansard/Commons/ByDate/20090326/writtenanswers/part007.html
- http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=NzU5NzY3NTI5
- http://www.anguillian.com/article/articleview/5209/1/135/
- http://www.britishcouncil.org/home-carter-report
- http://www.parliament.uk/deposits/depositedpapers/2008/DEP2008-0889.doc
- Letter for Foreign Affairs Committee
- http://www.news360.lk/education/two-sri-lankans-chosen-to-attend-the-chevening-scholarship-scheme-of-uk